by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

Mark Sanchez and JaMarcus Russell are making strides in their Southern California training with former Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia, who is helping the two resurrect careers at different crossroads.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said during the NFL owners' meetings earlier this month that while Sanchez will get the first snap during May organized team activities -- ahead of David Garrard, Greg McElroy, Tim Tebow and Matt Simms -- the competition for the Jets' starting job is wide open.

"Clearly we have to improve at the quarterback position,'' Ryan said.

To that end, three days a week for the past several weeks, first in the classroom and now on the field, Sanchez is downloading the West Coast offense from Garcia. The 12-year NFL veteran played in San Francisco and Philadelphia for Sanchez's newest offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg.

"He's doing an excellent job -- the progress Mark has made over the past three weeks is definitely very positive,'' Garcia told USA TODAY Sports. "It shows Mark is committed to bettering himself and getting himself more mentally prepared.

"The most important thing for Mark is to take that tough season last year as a learning experience from the standpoint of how he can get better and give his team the best chance to win. That has to be done in terms of being confident in his ability to run this system and speak the language correctly.

"So now when he takes the field in OTAs, he'll be in that much more comfortable of a place," Garcia added.

The father of the West Coast offense, late Hall of Fame 49ers coach Bill Walsh recognized something in Garcia when, while coaching Stanford, he faced Garcia's San Jose State team. Walsh wrote letters to 31 NFL teams on behalf of Garcia, a Canadian Football League quarterback, and was instrumental in signing him with the 49ers at age 29 in 1999.

Now Garcia, 42, is trying to help Sanchez reclaim the form he had when he led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons.

Last season, Sanchez owned the league's second-worst passer rating (66.9) and clearly regressed with 13 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, which led to his Dec. 23 benching for McElroy.

In 2000, Garcia threw for a career-best 4,278 passing yards with 31 touchdowns under then 49ers offensive coordinator Mornhinweg.

"Marty and I communicated a few weeks ago (about) what he'd like to introduce to Mark,'' Garcia said. "Mark is definitely getting more comfortable speaking the West Coast terminology. He had a brief glimpse of the West Coast system at USC.

"The toughest thing is this will be Mark's third offensive coordinator in six seasons. The guy has had to learn a new system just about every other year. From a consistency standpoint, that just doesn't translate to success in the NFL. You really need to be secure in what you're doing mentally in order to compete at the highest level.''

Garcia, a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, led the Eagles to the NFC East divisional title and a playoff win in 2006 under coach Andy Reid and Mornhinweg. Garcia led the Eagles on a five-game win streak after Donovan McNabb suffered a knee injury.

"Marty saw the way I made the system work for me as far as what my talents and tools were and how that can translate into helping Mark,'' Garcia said. "I've tried to emphasize to Mark, it's a rhythm and timing system, the ball has to come out of your hand on time. And you have to be so precise in everything.''

Garcia is on the advisory board for the 2014 relaunch of the USFL. He is also part owner of the Test Football Academy in Southern California, where he conducts his "Jeff Garcia Football Camp'' for high school and pre-high-school age prospects.

As for Russell, his mission of redemption is far more challenging, given he no longer wants to be remembered as the biggest bust in league history. The No. 1 overall pick in 2007, Russell went 7-18 as Oakland Raiders' starter before his 2010 release. Late owner Al Davis shelled out $39 million on the strong-armed but immature Louisiana Southern University arm talent.

Now Russell is battling to get his weight from 310 pounds two months ago into the 270 range.

"The plan right now is to continue to prepare him for another month and put together a pro day where teams can come and see JaMarcus,'' Garcia said. "Granted his back is against the wall. This is a situation where if he doesn't do it now, it may never happen.

"But if you look at where he was two months ago to where he is today, he's come a long way in demanding more out of himself than he ever did.''

Garcia added that Russell, now 27, is still "younger than I was when I came into the NFL at 29. And he can still throw that ball like no other quarterback.''

In his past NFL life, however, Russell was infamous for falling asleep in meetings and being more focused on frequent Las Vegas getaways than his playbook.

"JaMarcus is a good kid with a good heart who didn't mean any harm with how he went about things,'' Garcia said. "He was a 22-year-old given $39 million. He didn't have that mentality and didn't surround himself with people who could bring out his best.''